Mideast can benefit from initiative

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, together known as the Belt and Road Initiative, are aimed at building an inclusive community of shared interests and political mutual trust, and integrating developed and developing economies. They will not only help more Chinese enterprises to "go global" but also benefit many Middle East states.

But the implementation will not be easy in the face of the multiple security threats: violence, and political and social unrest that still straddle the routes and bridgeheads between Africa, Asia and Europe. Most regional players are undergoing (or may soon undergo) social transition, which, along with the escalating tensions in the neighborhood, add to the uncertainties. But the more daunting task is to eliminate terrorists and extremists, especially the bloodthirsty Islamic State jihadists.

The continuing clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, despite being relegated to the background owing to the IS' atrocities, remain a ticking time bomb in the region. So is the complex Kurdish problem that has haunted many Middle East countries, particularly Turkey whose ruling Justice and Development Party ended a two-and-a-half-year peace process in July by renewing its attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.